Archive for May, 2014

Carpeting the stairs provides many benefits to the home especially if there are children involved. If you have decided to carpet your stairs, there are a few things that are helpful to know before you start in on the process.

Two Methods to Carpet the Stairs

The first thing to learn in the two

The Waterfall Method – A long piece of carpet covers the whole stair case from each riser and tread.

The Cap and Band Method – A separate piece of carpet is used to cover each riser and tread.

How to get the right measurement for stair carpeting

The tread – The tread is the horizontal portion of the stairs. Measure the end of your tread from inner to outer.

The riser – The riser is the vertical distance of one step to the next.

Add the tread and the riser measurements together then add 2 inches to the total. The additional 2 inches will allow cover for the edges and allows allowances for any bulges that the padding may offer.

These are useful items to know when starting the process of carpeting your stairs. If these seem confusing at all, the team at Dolphin Carpet and Tile are happy to answer any questions.

What’s under your feet impacts life under your roof. The various floor coverings throughout your home influence interior beauty, design, décor, comfort, upkeep – life itself. From ancient monuments like the pyramids in Egypt and the majestic Greek and Roman temples, to the great civilizations of India and China, natural stone has been an important part of architecture throughout history. Natural stone is strong and stable to live with. It exudes a rich, organic, beautiful surface and has a confident, timeless “presence” in any room. It is the world’s oldest building material — imagine its beauty and elegance in your new home or remodeling project.

process began millions of years ago, deep beneath the earth’s surface

combination of heat and pressure creates blocks of natural stone

types include granite, marble, travertine, limestone, and slate

the earth’s crust grows and erodes and pushes minerals up from its core, forming massive rock deposits, called “quarries”

quarries found in countries throughout the world such as Italy, China, Spain, India, Canada, Mexico and also here in the United States

In a way, Mother Nature has taken care of your natural stone flooring for millions of years. Now it’s your turn. Here’s what you need to know about caring for your beautiful natural stone today and maintaining its timeless look for many tomorrows. Plus, knowing what’s expected of you regarding upkeep can be a determining factor in which type of natural flooring you choose to buy. Get to know exactly how to take care of your natural stone investment and it will reward you and your home for many years to come. Time spent caring for your stone floors will help maintain its classic beauty and unique personality for years to come.

Use walk-off mats or area rugs on either side of exterior entrances.

Choose a mat with a non slip backing.

Mats need to be kept clean.

Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces.

Floors should be dust mopped frequently.

Damp mop your natural stone floor.

Do not use any acids with vinegar or household cleaners.

Do not use products that contain lemon juice, vinegar or other acids.

Avoid using products that contain abrasive cleaners, cleansers (dry or soft) or any ammonia-based cleaners.

Do not use retail grout cleaners, scouring powders or bathroom tub and tile cleaners on your stone.

Don’t mix bleach and ammonia.

Rinse the floor thoroughly and dry the surface with a soft, clean cloth.

Always blot spills immediately.

Vacuum cleaner attachments are also useful for hard to reach areas.

To remove algae or moss from your stone in outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution.

Call on your local retailer to suggest specialty products designed for use on your stone floors.

It is your responsibility to properly maintain caulking in heavy water-use areas.

Take care when moving heavy objects across your stone floor.

Cover furniture and table legs with protectors to guard your floor against damage.

Each stone has different levels of susceptibility to staining.

Sealing your stone is a must.

If you accidentally damage or stain your floor, products are available that may resolve your problem.

In our last post we introduced what you need to know before buying natural stone. Here’s the rest!

Grout

lines are typically filled depending on the stone tile itself

can be thinner than ceramic tile installations

can match, contrast or coordinate with your stone tile

will outline each tile creating a visual picture frame

to be less noticeable, select a grout that is close in color to the stone

contrasting grout color, either darker or lighter, will make the grout lines more visible and thereby will create a checkerboard effect

colors installed can be slightly different from the sample

even when the same color is used, common to see slight differences between the grout in adjacent rooms

exact layouts, type of grout and grout joint widths are determined by our tile setter at the time of installation and are governed by the actual size and shape of the tile, and the exact dimensions of the areas to be covered

Sealer

highly recommended

should be performed by professionals

makes it less porous, more stain resistant, and protects the stone

different types of sealer

once flooring is installed, you are responsible for maintaining all caulked areas

Entire cost of ownership

The material “cost per square foot” of your stone flooring is just one component of the entire project cost. To ensure there are no surprises, and the stone you select fits within your overall project budget, be sure to ask us to calculate the total cost of your floor covering project. Here’s a list of potential additional expenses you may incur:

furniture removal/replacement

demolition/disposal of old floor covering

sub-floor preparation

product delivery

stone installation

materials required to complete the installation

In addition to the total project cost, you should also know the cost of annual cleanings to maintain the beauty and life of your new stone floor. Also, consult the manufacturer’s warranty and care guide for directions on how frequently the stone should be cleaned and the cost to clean it.

Learn all you can before buying stone for your home. In this section we’ve laid down what we know and what you should consider before making your buying decision. Because knowledge about stone specifics and characteristics, about its traits and subtle differences, can be invaluable. Choosing the best stone for your home is really about knowing the right combination of characteristics, aesthetics, performance and budget to best meet the needs of your lifestyle.

Being familiar with ceramic tile construction helps you understand and evaluate its performance aspects: why certain ceramic tile floors wear better and longer. The main ingredients of ceramic tile and its general manufacturing process have not changed that much throughout the centuries. All ceramic tiles are created from natural products extracted from the earth that are shaped into tiles and then fired in kilns at extremely high temperatures.

2 main types of tile construction:

Glazed

from the side, see 2 layers

body – called the bisque

top layer – called the glaze

hard non-porous, impermeable surface after firing

more stain resistant than unglazed

easy to clean

consider for areas like the kitchen and baths

Unglazed

solid colored all the way through

do not have a top layer of glaze

referred to as through-body construction

no additional surface applications

more dense and durable than glazed

suitable for interior and exterior applications

good for areas with kids

There are 5 steps in the ceramic tile manufacturing process:

Mining

process begins with the mining of the raw materials

mixture composed of clay and minerals

Blending and Mixing

introduces mud into the mix

clay and mineral mixture blended and mixed into a semi-fine powder

water is added to form a wet slurry or mud-like consistency

the slurry is pumped into a large dryer

result- fine clay powder that feels like warm, fine sand

Pressing

applies pressure to the process

clay is pressed or formed into a tile shape

pressed tiles are called green tiles

another method called extrusion-replaces the pressing step

extruded tiles-formed by forcing the clay through a mold versus pressing the tile

pressing is the more common method used today

after the green tiles are formed they are dried

Glazing

If the tile is to remain unglazed it skips this step and goes directly to the firing kiln.

liquid is prepared from a glass derivative called frit and colored dyes

applied by a high-pressure spray or poured onto the tile

Firing

fired in the kiln at temperatures around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit

monocoturra tile or single fired -tiles that are fired once after the glaze is applied

biocuttura or double fired- first fired after the green tile is dried and fired again after the glaze is applied

Alternative- porcelain

made up of 50% feldspar

fired at a much higher temperature

harder and denser

high performance

low water absorption ratings of less than 0.5 percent

can be used for interior and exterior applications or commercial areas

After the finished tiles have been inspected for quality assurances, they are packaged, crated and ready to be shipped.

Uses

not all ceramic tile is suitable for each area of your home

tile on your kitchen backsplash may not be recommended for installation on the floor

Rating System

rating system provided

rating system found on samples or boxes

most common system rates ceramic tile abrasion resistance or the overall durability of the tile

Sooner or later, time and traffic, life and living, will take its toll on any floor covering. Ceramic tile is no exception.But take heart, keeping your tile as clean and beautiful as its first days in your home just takes know-how. In fact, understanding the best methods to care for your ceramic flooring will help maintain its beauty and keep it close to its original condition. Plus, knowing what’s expected of you regarding upkeep can be a determining factor in which type of ceramic tile to purchase. Knowing how to care for and maintain your ceramic floor will help keep your investment beautiful, durable and a source of pride for years to come.

It’s important to sweep a tile floor regularly.

Use walk-off matsat all exterior entrances.

Remember to shake the mats often to remove the dirt.

Ceramic tile floors should be damp-mopped regularly using the manufacturer’s recommended grout and tile cleaners.

Textured tiles may require mild scrubbing with a soft brush or electric polisher/scrubber.

For soft water situations you may need to use an all-purpose cleaner.

Use cleaning products available from your local grocery store or flooring retailer for heavier cleaning tasks.

Consult the cleaning product’s instructions to make sure the cleaning product is compatible with your type of tile.

After cleaning, rinse well and wipe dry

Avoid using steel wool, scouring powders, or other abrasives.

Don’t use bleach or ammonia based cleaners.

Do not clean glazed tile with oil-based cleaners.

Try to clean up spills as quickly as possible.

Tile can crack under extreme force or pressure.

Take the proper precautions when moving heavy objects across your tile floor.

Cover furniture and table legs with protectors.

Keep extra tiles after the installation.

Areas exposed to water need to be caulked on a regular basis.

Seal your grout for added protection.

Grout colorants are available for stained, damaged or undesired colored grout.